Arizona State Representative Matt Gress announced details of an upcoming community hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Budgetary Funding Formulas to examine housing contracts to convert hotel rooms for use as an emergency homeless shelter.

The public hearing will be 4-5:45 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13 at the Scottsdale Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd.

Subcommittee Chairman Gress issued the following statement regarding the Sept. 13 hearing: “The disclosure of Scottsdale’s plan to utilize local hotel rooms to accommodate homeless individuals has caused a great deal of concern with residents. Creating a micro-shelter within an operating hotel raises several questions, including whether this strategy really addresses the root cause of the problem. Further, mixing shelter residents with unknowing hotel guests is alarming. This upcoming hearing is an opportunity to explore the issue comprehensively and offer residents an appropriate platform to be heard. I have extended invitations to key witnesses in hopes they will share their perspective and experience with the subcommittee, and I eagerly await the discussion.”

Witnesses testifying include: David Ortega, Mayor, City of Scottsdale; Jared Meyer, Senior Advisor at the Cicero Institute; Erica Sandberg, journalist/author; Lisa Chastain, CEO, Gospel Rescue Mission in Tucson; and an invitation to testify has been extended to the Arizona Department of Housing.

The public is welcome to attend this special community hearing of the subcommittee. A portion of the hearing will be exclusively reserved for public comment, which Gress views as being an important missing component in this matter so far.